Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and the Controversies of Self

Availability: Available to Backorder, No Due Date for Supply, Not for Xmas

Shakespeare's Hamlet and the Controversies of Self by John Lee

Book Description

This book offers a new approach to the discussion of English Renaissance literary subjectivity. Dissatisfied with much New Historicist and Cultural Materialistic criticism, it attempts to trace the history of the controversies of self. William Hazlitt emerges as a pioneering figure in a tradition of literary criticism which this book tries to advance. Drawing on the personal construct theory of George A. Kelly, and on the moral theory of Alasdair MacIntyre, the textual ways are traced by which 'That within' Hamlet is constructed. In an argument that challenges some of the founding propositions of New Historicist and Cultural Materialist practice, the Prince is seen to have a self-constituting, as opposed to a self-fashioning, sense of self. This sense of self is neither essentialist nor transhistorical; using the work of Charles Taylor , the play is seen to be exploring a Montaignesque, as opposed to Cartesian, notion of subjectivity. The controversies of self are, in fact, an issue within Shakespeare's play; and if the notion of Folio and Quarto Princes is allowed, it may even be at issue within the play. Hamlet debates our debate.

Buy Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and the Controversies of Self book by John Lee from Australia's Online Bookstore, Boomerang Books.

Books By Author John Lee

As Cara the cat is struggling to choose a soundtrack for her figure skating performance, she notices that Darby the dog seems a little down. When she discovers Darby is sad because he doesn't know how to ice skate, Cara happily puts aside her problem to help out a friend with the caveat that Darby should pay it forward.

For every $20 you spend on books, you will receive $1 in Boomerang Bucks loyalty dollars. You can use your Boomerang Bucks as a credit towards a future purchase from Boomerang Books. Note that you must be a Member (free to sign up) and that conditions do apply.